Virginia’s first Recover High School, McShin Academy, to open at Villa

Posted on November 13, 2017 by St. Joseph's Villa

The Virginia Department of Health reports more than 1,400 people died of drug overdoses in 2016–a 38% increase from 2015. The McShin Foundation and St. Joseph’s Villa are partnering to break to cycle of addiction in adolescents by establishing the first recovery high school in the state.

“We have seen an alarming rise in opioid use and fatalities among teenagers,” said Honesty Liller, CEO of the McShin Foundation.

McShin Academy, located on the Villa campus, is designed to help students recover from substance use disorder while continuing their education in a small and nurturing environment.

McShin Academy will operate in its own building on the Villa campus.

The McShin Foundation is Virginia’s leading Peer-to-Peer Recovery Community Organization. Students of McShin Academy will receive guidance from McShin’s peer recovery coaches, while St. Joseph’s provides education services.

“There are not many schools in the country that operate a substance use recovery model,” said Cindy Faison, COO of St. Joseph’s Villa. “It is a relatively new concept.”

McShin Academy will be housed in its own building and run separately from the Villa’s other schools. It is funded by private tuition, with scholarship opportunities available through the McShin Foundation.

“St. Joseph’s Villa was founded to meet the most critical needs of vulnerable children and youth. Our partnership with the McShin Foundation directly aligns with that mission,” said Kathleen Burke Barrett, Villa CEO.

For a tour and details about the admissions process, please call Honesty Liller at 804-249-1845 or the St. Joseph’s Villa Admissions Office at 804-553-3241.